We try and eat out as a family at least once every couple of months.…
Sunday Lunch at Brewers Fayre, Dunelm Ridge
Sunday lunch at Brewers Fayre, Dunelm Ridge offers plenty of choice at a reasonable price. The place is nice inside and service is good.
Sunday is usually a leisurely day for me. I like to spend Sunday with the family having a nice Sunday lunch or going out visiting places of interest. If the weather is nice we will head out for a drive and explore places like Wallington or Seaton Delaval Hall.
Often we go off on random adventures, like the time we tried to find High Force Waterfall and ended up in a farmers field. This weekend we were invited to come for Sunday lunch at the Brewers Fayre, Dunelm Ridge. It has just been refurbished and we were looking forward to seeing it.
Brewers Fayre, Dunelm Ridge
The Brewers Fayre, Dunelem Ridge is situated close to Durham, an ideal place to stop for a meal if you have visited Durham catherdral or the nearby Diggerland. It is situated just outside the small village of Pity Me, part of the Arniston Retail Park and right next door to Premier Inn.
It was really easy to find, just off the main road. There is plenty of parking and a nice view over open fields beyond. The Brewers Fayre has a large outdoor area, which is perfect for sitting at on a sunny day, as well as a large indoor area.
Inside Brewers Fayre, Dunelm Ridge
Entering into the pub we found a spacious area decorated with wood and red and cream walls, with brick making an appearance here and there. The Brewers Fayre manages to combine space with privacy, with booths and different areas providing separation. It has a relaxed family atmosphere and the staff are really helpful.
I loved the little touches like the quirky photos on the walls and the logs in the fireplace.
We were quickly shown to our table and it was explained to us how everything worked and where we needed to go to order our meal. We were also offered membership into the Brewers Fayre Bonus Club. Every time you spend money on a meal in a Brewers Fayre you get points which can be exchanged for food or drinks. It also entitles you to special offers like a free main course on your birthday. We were not sure if there was a Brewers Fayre near to where we live, but the staff went to find out for us and let us know there was. Little touches like this made us feel especially welcome.
If you have younger kids then they can find waiting for a meal hard work. Brewers Fayre has catered for this with a Dennis the Menace themed play area. It costs £3 per child for 90 minutes of play and is a good way to keep your little ones happy while they wait. My son is a little old for this now, but it would have been invaluable when he was a toddler.
The Food
The menu is extensive with a choice of sandwiches, burgers, pub food and pastas and salads. There is also a large range of starters and desserts. If you have younger children there is a children’s menu, called menacing meals, which are £3.99. As it was Sunday there was also a carvery where you could get a starter, soup and a main course for £9.99.
It took us a while to decide what to have, there was so much to choose from. Once we decided we went to the main counter to order. There was a queue but one of the staff quickly pointed out another cashier who was available so I didn’t have to wait. Once we ordered our meals did not take long to arrive.
My son opted for the New Yorker (£8.99), a beef burger with cheese and bacon served with coleslaw and fries. It quickly disappeared so it must have been nice.
My husband chose the steak, mushroom and Guinness pie (£8.79) which came with mash and peas. He said it was delicious and raved about the mash being real mash with butter.
I went for Smoothed Chicken (£8.99). The chicken was covered with bacon and melted cheese and served with coleslaw, garlic bread, salad and barbecue sauce. I have to say it was delicious. The coleslaw was lovely and crunchy and the barbecue sauce went with the meal perfectly.
Having enjoyed our main courses we decided to be decadent and try dessert. The dessert menu is full of gorgeous looking desserts but my son and I both decided we would try a banana split (£4.29).
This was gorgeous, underneath the cream there was a scoop of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream nestled inside the bananas. It was the perfect end to the meal. While we ate the staff were attentive, checking if we needed anything without being intrusive. We really felt welcome the whole time we were there.
Our meals with drinks came to just over £44 which I felt was reasonable, it was what we would usually spend if we went out for a meal at our local bar. We were very happy with the food and the service and loved the look of the bar. It was modern and upbeat whilst still being cosy and welcoming. Next time we are in Durham we would definitely return to Brewers Fayre, Dunelm Ridge and will certainly be checking out our local Brewers Fayre in the near future.
We were treated to a complementary meal in order to experience the new look Brewers Fayre but were not obliged to say anything nice. My opinions are honest and my own.
Galina V says
The pie looks gorgeous, and I love good old mash with lots of butter, pure comfort food. The banana split dessert looks pretty too.
Dragons and Fairy Dust says
It was really tasty too, my son struggled to finish which is unusual
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I haven’t had a really good Sunday lunch in such a long time. Although, the last one we went to was an amazing carvery and I went back for more veggies twice! I got my moneys worth that’s for sure!